There is much to see when it comes to Arab athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Arab men won a total of 14 medals at Tokyo 2020 and more are likely this time around.
Here are five billion men to watch in Paris 2024.
Djamel Sedjati (Algeria) – Athletics
Algeria's Djamel Sedjati heads to Paris in red-hot form, not just gold but also on course to break David Rudisha's 12-year-old world record in the 800m.
Within the last three weeks, the 25-year-old Sedjati ran the third and fourth fastest 800 meters ever, running 1 minute 41.56 seconds at the Diamond League stop in Paris and then lowered his personal best to 1:41.46 five days later in Monaco.
Rudisha set a world record of 1:40.91 at London 2012 and Sedjati has every intention of emulating the Kenyan this Olympics.
“I want to thank everyone, especially my family and my coach. It's the fourth time I've led the world and the second Algerian record. I've worked really hard for that,” Sedjati said recently in Monaco.
'Now I'm thinking about the world record, I hope to run it in the Olympics. I still have two weeks to prepare for it. I will focus on that and put in the necessary work so that I can achieve my goal.
I will keep the preparation the same. My mindset is that the hard work I put in will pay off.”
Sedjati's performance in Monaco saw him set a new national record, world lead, Diamond League record, meet record, and personal best.
Will he do better in Paris?
The men's 800m heats begin on August 7, with the semi-finals and final on August 9 and 10.
Ahmed Abu Al-Saud (Jordan) – Gymnastics
In Liverpool in 2022, Ahmed Abu Al-Saud of Jordan became the first Arab to make the podium at the World Championships, winning a silver medal on pommel horse.
Although a lower back injury slowed his pace, he claimed another world championship medal the following year, this time bronze.
He then went on to dominate the 2024 World Cup series (winning gold in three out of four) to punch his ticket to Paris and become the first Jordanian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics.
Abu al-Saud, 29, whose skill is named after him in the FIG Code of Points, is No. 1 in the world for pommel horse in Paris and the favorite to win gold at the Olympics.
Men's qualifications in artistic gymnastics begin on July 27 at Bercy Arena, with the pommel horse final scheduled for August 3.
Ramzi Boukhiam (Morocco) – Surfing
The first Moroccan or Arab surfer to qualify for the World Surf League Championship Tour, Ramzi Bokhiam is heading to his second Olympics, having competed in Tokyo 2020, his surfing debut.
The surfing competition of the 2024 Olympics will be held in Tahiti, where 24 men and 24 women will take on the majestic and equally terrifying Teahupo'o Wave.
Stand Taghzout!
Ramzi Boukhiam keeping the Moroccans on their toes, and Kelly Slater landing on her feet on a technical Teahupo'o foamball to win and take the semi-final spot!@SHISEIDO_USA #TahitiPro @outerknown_live pic.twitter.com/aEOlRy8SEx
— World Surf League (@wsl) May 30, 2024
Bokhiam finished ninth in his Olympic debut in Tokyo, but Tihupoo suits his surfing style very well. And the 30-year-old can take confidence from the fact he finished third in the same spot on the Championship Tour two months ago at the Tahiti Pro.
“I now have my second chance, going to Tahiti, on a wave like Teahupo'o, the most dangerous but the best wave on the planet,” Boukhiam, Morocco's flagbearer at Tokyo 2020, said recently on the podcast Abtal. .
“As a surfer, it doesn't get much better than that. You're scared but super excited at the same time and I think if we can get good waves, it could be a really amazing, amazing event.”
Boukhiam secured his spot at the 2024 Olympics by winning a silver medal at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico in March.
The surfing competition at the Olympics begins on July 27 in Tahiti and will continue until July 31.
Mutaz Barsim (Qatar) – Athletics
Qatar's Mutaz Barsim won bronze in London (which was upgraded to silver nine years later), silver in Rio and gold in Tokyo.
Barshim has been raising the bar higher and higher with each Olympic Games and the star high jumper is now ready to take the leap for the last time.
“I think I've been here for a long time, I've done everything, seen everything and I think it would be selfish of me to take more time away from my family and loved ones at this point,” 33-year-old Barsim said after announcing Paris would be his last game. told Floatrac this week.
“I want to be there for my family as well. Everyone is there for my career. I've been jumping professionally since 2011, so it's been a long time and I'm really happy and happy with everything we've achieved together but I think it's back It's time to give back to my family.”
Barshim provided one of the most iconic moments of the Tokyo Olympics when he and his Italian rival and friend Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share the gold medal instead of going to the jump-off to break their tie.
They both overcame career-threatening injuries in the build-up to Tokyo and felt they both deserved to top the podium.
Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi shared the top step of the podium in the men's high jump at Tokyo 2020.
Vote for your favorite Olympic magic moment for a chance to win a trip #Paris2024. Regional restrictions for voting may apply. https://t.co/aGWb0MJuy2#CocaCola pic.twitter.com/fJIlpODmkq
— Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 2, 2024
Barshim and Tamberi said there would be no partnership if they found themselves in the same situation in Paris.
The men's high jump qualification at the Paris Olympics will take place on August 7 at the Stade de France, with the final scheduled for August 10.
Yahya Omar (Egypt) – Handball
He is set to be a Parisian for the next three years but before making his debut for new club Paris Saint-Germain, Yahya Omar will be looking to help Egypt win its first handball medal at the Olympics.
The Egyptians came close to making the podium at Tokyo 2020, finishing fourth after losing to Spain in the bronze medal match. This is the first time an African team has advanced so far in handball at the Olympics.
The 26-year-old right-back was a key part of that Olympic team, which earned him Tokyo 2020 All-Star Team honors – the first non-European to achieve that feat since 1992.
Egypt have a challenging road ahead in Paris, drawn in the same group as hosts and defending champions France, reigning world champions Denmark, Norway, Hungary and Argentina.
“It's the Olympics. Nothing is easy. I think we have a tough group, but I think it gives us a good chance to reach the semi-finals,” Omar said when the draw was revealed.
The pharaohs began their campaign against Hungary on July 27.
